The East Windsor Historical Commission is a group of concerned citizens; members of the electorate appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The task of the Commission is to identify, archive, and preserve structures, sites and monuments significant in the town’s history and cultural development. The Historical Commission provides the citizenry with publications and programs to promote awareness and appreciation of the town’s history and offers assistance to private citizens who wish to preserve individual properties of significant historical or architectural value.

Why Preserve old Properties?

For many of today’s citizens the idea of preserving the old is contrary to the idea "newer is better". Recently, however, communities have begun to acknowledge the fact that with the increasingly rapid neglect, endangerment and disappearance of old buildings, sites, and monuments; a town’s significant past and the roots of its citizenry, the town’s heritage, is lost forever. In any community there are structurally sound buildings that are representative of significant architectural and historic eras of the town. Often rehabilitating these buildings is wiser than destroying them, both aesthetically and financially.

What is Preservation?

Preservation is the conservation of any architectural or historical structure, site or monument. It is the maintenance of the basic design and building materials of such a structure.

In adaptive preservation the emphasis is on saving the appearance and authenticity of the exterior of a building. Then the interior can be adapted to a more modern use as a residence, commercial or municipal facility.

How does the Historical Commission serve the community?

The commission exists to support the preservation of the town’s historic and cultural heritage. This is accomplished first by identifying properties suitable for preservation. Then the commission can provide assistance with the registration of these properties with the state and national registers of historic buildings.

As historic properties are identified and registered the commission will also assist in the development of expert presentations, slide shows, and walking tours to educate the community about the town’s heritage.

The commission will establish individual and thematic landmarks, as well as historic districts, in order to better preserve the town’s heritage for future generations. In order to accomplish this goal, the commission will need the active participation and cooperation of the municipality and its citizens.

How can an individual support the efforts of the Historical Commission?

1. Contact a commission member if you are willing to explore the possibility of identifying or preserving your individual property as a significant historical or architectural site.

2. Contact a commission member if you are aware of any endangered property significant to the town’s heritage.

3. Contact a commission member if you are an individual or business that is able to donate services or make a financial contribution to assist with preservation projects.

4. Contact a commission member if you are a member of the legal profession who is able to donate your services in drafting legislation to further preservation.

5. As a member of the electorate support the commission’s efforts to preserve sites in the community and lobby the legislature for support and funding for continued preservation.

6. Attend with your family and friends any informational programs sponsored by the commission to promote the historical and cultural heritage of East Windsor.